Isolatable electrical contact device, especially for electrical terminal block

Abstract

A device comprising two conductive spaced apart components (3, 4) and a blade (5) in the form of a conductive segment mobile between a position closing the circuit wherein it is in contact with the two conductive components and a position opening the circuit, wherein it is spaced apart from said components. The blade is mounted locked in translation on a rod (7) axially mobile in the box between a retracted position in the box wherein the blade (5) is in contact with the conductive components and a projecting position wherein the blade is spaced apart from the conductive components, means being provided to maintain the rod stable in those two positions.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electrical terminal block comprising, inside an insulating casing: 
       two conducting components ( 3 ,  4 ) separated from each other, each of which can be connected to a conducting element;  
       a blade ( 5 ) in a form of a conducting strip which can be moved between a closed position of an electrical contact of a circuit in which the blade ( 5 ) is in contact with the two conducting components and an open position of the circuit, in which the blade ( 5 ) is separated from the components;  
       a rod ( 7 ) translationally connected to the blade ( 5 ) and which can be moved axially in the casing ( 2 ) between an “inserted” position in the casing in which the blade ( 5 ) is in the closed position of the circuit and a “withdrawn” position in which the blade ( 5 ) is in the open position of the circuit; and,  
       means for holding the rod ( 7 ) in a stable manner in one of the two withdrawn or inserted positions,  
       the means holding the rod ( 7 ) in the withdrawn position includes a spiral spring ( 11 ) inserted between the casing and the rod ( 7 ), and  
       the means holding the rod ( 7 ) in the inserted position includes the rod ( 7 ) itself.  
     
     
       2. The terminal block as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the rod ( 7 ) comprises coupling means intended to provide a connection between the rod ( 7 ) and an adjacent rod for a simultaneous maneuvering of two blades. 
     
     
       3. The device as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the means holding the rod ( 7 ) in the inserted position comprises a finger ( 8 ) extending perpendicularly from the rod ( 7 ) and engaged in a groove ( 14 ) made in the casing ( 6 ) for guiding the rod ( 7 ), oriented parallel to the rod ( 7 ) and comprising, at an end of the groove ( 14 ) located closest to the contact, a 90° return ( 15 ). 
     
     
       4. The device as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the means holding the rod ( 7 ) fin the recessed position comprises a finger ( 19 ) extending perpendicularly from the rod ( 7 ) and engaged in an inclined groove ( 20 ) made in the casing ( 22 ) for guiding the rod ( 7 ) and having a notch ( 23 ) for locking the finger in the position in which the rod (This most engaged in the casing. 
     
     
       5. The device as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the means holding the rod ( 7 ) in the closed position of the contact comprises a ring ( 26 ) which, is around the rod ( 7 ) and mounted so that the ring ( 26 ) is free in rotation and blocked in translation in the insulating casing, has two sawtoothed edges ( 29 ) forming teeth, each tooth of the teeth being defined by an inclined portion ( 30 ) followed by a portion ( 32 ) parallel to the axis of the ring, all the inclined portions ( 30 ) being inclined in the same direction, the ring ( 26 ) having axial grooves ( 33 ) opening out in an inner wall of the ring ( 26 ), made alternately with recessed regions ( 34 ) of a profile of the sawtoothed ( 29 ), while the rod ( 7 ) has two radially protruding lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) which are offset axially by a value at least equal to a width of the ring ( 26 ), in order to be located on either side thereof, the two lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) being offset circumferentially by a value substantially equal to a length of one tooth, a lug ( 27 ) of the two lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) located on a side of a free end of the rod ( 7 ) serving, by pressing against the inclined portions ( 30 ) of the teeth of the ring, to cause the ring to rotate, in order successively to bring another lug ( 28 ) of the two lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) pressing in one of the recessed regions ( 34 ) of one tooth, with an axial position of the rod ( 7 ) corresponding to the closure of the contact, and on an inside of one of the axial grooves ( 33 ), with an axial position of the rod ( 7 ) corresponding to the opening of the contact. 
     
     
       6. The device as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the blade ( 5 ) is mounted so that the blade ( 5 ) can rotate freely on the rod ( 7 ) that corresponds to the blade ( 5 ) and which is guided in translation, with rotational locking, in the insulating casing. 
     
     
       7. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the means holding the rod ( 7 ) in the inserted position comprises a finger ( 8 ) extending perpendicularly from the rod ( 7 ) and engaged in a groove ( 14 ) made in the casing ( 6 ) for guiding the rod ( 7 ), oriented parallel to the rod ( 7 ) and comprising, at an end of the groove ( 14 ) located closest to the contact, a 90° return ( 15 ). 
     
     
       8. The device as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the return ( 15 ) comprises, at an end of the return ( 15 ), a notch ( 16 ) for locking the finger. 
     
     
       9. The device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the blade ( 5 ) is mounted so that the blade ( 5 ) can rotate freely on the rod ( 7 ) which corresponds to the blade ( 5 ) and which is guided in translation, with rotational locking, in the insulating casing. 
     
     
       10. The device as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the blade ( 5 ) is mounted so that the blade ( 5 ) can rotate freely on the rod ( 7 ) which corresponds to the blade ( 5 ) and which is guided in translation, with rotational locking, in the insulating casing. 
     
     
       11. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the means holding the rod ( 7 ) in the recessed position comprises a finger ( 19 ) extending perpendicularly from the rod ( 7 ) and engaged in an inclined groove ( 20 ) made in the casing ( 22 ) for guiding the rod ( 7 ) and having a notch ( 23 ) for locking the finger in the position in which the rod is most engaged in the casing. 
     
     
       12. The device as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the groove ( 20 ) is continuous and the casing in which the groove ( 20 ) is made comprises, on a periphery, several successive groove portions successively corresponding to the movement of the rod ( 7 ) toward the closed position of the contact and toward the open position of the contact. 
     
     
       13. The device as claimed in  claim 12 , characterized in that the blade ( 5 ) is mounted so that the blade ( 5 ) can rotate freely on the rod ( 7 ) which corresponds to the blade ( 5 ) and which is guided in translation, with rotational locking, in the insulating casing. 
     
     
       14. The device as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the blade ( 5 ) is mounted so that the blade ( 5 ) can rotate freely on the rod ( 7 ) which corresponds to the blade ( 5 ) and which is guided in translation, with rotational locking, in the insulating casing. 
     
     
       15. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the means holding the rod ( 7 ) in the closed position of the contact comprises a ring ( 26 ) which, is around the rod ( 7 ) and mounted so that the ring ( 26 ) is free in rotation and blocked in translation in the insulating casing, has two sawtoothed edges ( 29 ) forming teeth, each tooth of the teeth being defined by an inclined portion ( 30 ) followed by a portion ( 32 ) parallel to the axis of the ring, all the inclined portions ( 30 ) being inclined in the same direction, the ring ( 26 ) having axial grooves ( 33 ) opening out in an inner wall of the ring ( 26 ), made alternately with recessed regions ( 34 ) of a profile of the sawtoothed edges ( 29 ), while the rod ( 7 ) has two radially protruding lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) which are offset axially by a value at least equal to a width of the ring ( 26 ), in order to be located on either side thereof, the two lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) being offset circumferentially by a value substantially equal to a length of one tooth, a lug ( 27 ) of the two lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) located on a side of a free end of the rod ( 7 ) serving, by pressing against the inclined portions ( 30 ) of the teeth of the ring, to cause the ring to rotate, in order successively to bring another lug ( 28 ) of the two lugs ( 27 ,  28 ) pressing in one of the recessed regions ( 34 ) of one tooth, with an axial position of the rod ( 7 ) corresponding to the closure of the contact, and on an inside of one of the axial grooves ( 33 ), with an axial position of the rod ( 7 ) corresponding to the opening of the contact. 
     
     
       16. The device as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that the blade ( 5 ) is mounted so that the blade ( 5 ) can rotate freely on the rod ( 7 ) which corresponds to the blade ( 5 ) and which is guided in translation, with rotational locking, in the insulating casing. 
     
     
       17. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the blade ( 5 ) is mounted so that the blade ( 5 ) can rotate freely on the rod ( 7 ) which it corresponds to the blade ( 5 ) and which is guided in translation, with rotational locking, in the insulating casing.